Recurrent point


In mathematics, a recurrent point for a function f is a point that is in its own limit set by f. Any neighborhood containing the recurrent point will also contain iterates of it as well.

Definition

Let be a Hausdorff space and a function. A point is said to be recurrent if , i.e. if belongs to its -limit set. This means that for each neighborhood of there exists such that .
The set of recurrent points of is often denoted and is called the recurrent set of. Its closure is called the Birkhoff center of, and appears in the work of George David Birkhoff on dynamical systems.
Every recurrent point is a nonwandering point, hence if is a homeomorphism and is compact, then is an invariant subset of the non-wandering set of .